The Non-GTO

The success of the GTO gave Pontiac—and John DeLorean—lots of sway within the halls of General Motors. DeLorean got a lot of what he wanted in the wake of the GTO’s impressive launch, but not everything. DeLorean’s wish list included a 2+2 fiberglass sports car codenamed Banshee. Pontiac designed the Banshee to be powered by a 230ci overhead-cam six. Pontiac’s engine group was way ahead of the curve and had completed work on this engine in 1965. But with no Banshee to put it in and the Firebird not ready for production until 1967, the OHC six was made available for the A-Body Tempest.

2/6With the overdrive transmission, the Sprint's inline-six makes for an excellent long-distance cruiser. Gas mileage is in the low 20s. The owner added front disc brakes, and he feels the radial tires enhance the driving experience.

Pontiac based its OHC six on Chevrolet’s 230-inch six of that era, but the cast-iron block and head castings were unique to Pontiac’s application. A single overhead cam was driven by a fiberglass-reinforced timing belt. The front timing belt cover and valve cover were cast aluminum. The base version for the ’66 LeMans, with a single-barrel carburetor, produced 165 hp. The Sprint version featured a hotter cam, higher compression (10.5:1), larger valves, a split exhaust manifold, and a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor. These improvements allowed the Sprint engine to produce 207 hp in the ’66 LeMans and, after the addition of 20 cubic inches, 215 hp in the ’67. In addition, the overhead cam allowed this unique six to easily rev to 5,500 rpm. Transmission choices included a three-speed manual (standard), a four-speed manual, and a two-speed automatic. The Sprint option could be added to any Tempest or LeMans model except a station wagon.

Pontiac didn’t see the sales success with the Sprint it had hoped for. Jim Wangers, Pontiac’s marketing guru at the time, recalls, “It had a delightful exhaust rumble, and rather capable performance. Though it was promoted quite aggressively and received very good enthusiast press, it flopped. The ’60s were the time for the V-8 engine in the U.S. market. Nobody wanted any kind of Pontiac that wasn’t V-8 powered, no matter how many camshafts or where they were located.”

3/6Most Sprint-optioned LeMans models have been converted to GTO clones. That was owner Jerry Harder’s initial idea until he saw the positive reaction to the rare OHC six under the hood. The ’66 LeMans hardtop cuts a fine figure, even without the treasured GTO emblems on the fender. The attractive color, most commonly known as GM’s Marina or LeMans Blue, was not available on ’66 models but certainly highlights this Pontiac’s sexy curves.

Jerry Harder of Oceanside, California, was originally looking for a mid-’60s GTO when he found this bargain-priced, Sprint-optioned ’66 Le Mans. He originally intended to build a GTO clone out of it, so he didn’t care about the poor running six-cylinder engine it had or the three-speed transmission. But after the first car show, where the OHC engine drew lots of attention, Jerry changed his mind and decided to keep the six.

The car was very straight, had just been painted, and had received a fresh interior. Jerry rebuilt the front suspension and added disc brakes. He was about to have the engine rebuilt when someone told him about a completely rebuilt Sprint engine for the low price of $500. For drivability Jerry added a Tremec five-speed harvested from a local wrecking yard. He fabricated an offset to the shift lever so it exits the console in the correct factory location. When Jerry had the exhaust installed, his instruction was, “Make it sound European.” And sure enough, it sounds like a BMW and not a tractor.

Jerry’s Sprint OHC six, with the overdrive transmission, registers fuel economy numbers in the low 20s on the road, making it a fun cruiser. And the engine still draws a crowd at car shows like a fight in a school yard. Recently, Jerry’s Sprint was one of several cars brought to a local TV station for the promotion of an upcoming car show. While surrounded by several high-horsepower, V-8–powered hot rods and muscle cars, it was Jerry’s Sprint six the announcer focused in on. Wouldn’t DeLorean have been pleased?